BBC Four Totally British 70's Rock 'n' Roll

[rudiger]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01r7hk5

BBC Four
Next Friday (March 15) 21:00

Totally British 70's Rock 'n' Roll

1975-79

Episode 2 of 2

Duration: 1 hour

A romp through the BBC archive library from 1975 to 1979 has unearthed some seldom seen performances of the rarely-explored genre of pub rock and other late 70s rock 'n' roll gems from classic music programmes like the Old Grey Whistle Test and Top of the Pops. Before the DIY culture of punk took hold there was a whole breed of real musicians who honed their craft in the backrooms of pubs. And towards the end of the 70s men's hair was starting to get shorter too.

This compilation has uncovered rarely-seen footage from the likes of Canvey Island's Dr Feelgood, original pub rockers Ducks DeLuxe, Eddie and the Hot Rods, Elvis Costello, Meal Ticket, Steve Gibbons Band, Dave Edmunds and chum Nick Lowe, a pre-Mike & the Mechanics' Paul Carrack in his first band Ace, a post-Faces Ronnie Lane, the Motors, the first TV performance from Dire Straits, Graham Parker and the Rumour and many more

Old Grey Wistle Test?

[dmg]

Sounds like it.  That was their first TV performance, but they did play Lions too didn't they, which is very seldom shown.  I'll bet it's not this time either!

[rudiger]

true! it was not even included among the bonus tracks on the Alchemy DVD 

[dmg]

Here it is on YouTube:

 

[rudiger]

it wouldn't be bad to have it complete and in better quality 

[dmg]

it wouldn't be bad to have it complete and in better quality 

I agree.  I like this version a lot;  it doesn't go on and on at the end like other live versions (although it is cut) and Mark's vocals are great.

[vgonis]

Perhaps the best lyrics in DS 1st album. Totally love them. The first video song by DS I found on the Internet. Too bad it is not complete and the quality is so bad.
"they're all in the stations praying for trains..."  totally fantastic the way he completes one thing with another.

[dmg]

Perhaps the best lyrics in DS 1st album. Totally love them. The first video song by DS I found on the Internet. Too bad it is not complete and the quality is so bad.
"they're all in the stations praying for trains..."  totally fantastic the way he completes one thing with another.

As a whole that's probably right and there isn't a bad song on the album either.  IMO that's because the songs are all about Marks own life or songs written from an observers point of view - like a reporter.  I've often thought that when Mark writes like this, he writes his best work.  He would do well to stay away from basing it on a book or event.

[Rkd]

"they're all in the stations praying for trains..."  totally fantastic the way he completes one thing with another.

Love this observation. Very keen!

[rudiger]

anyone?

[vgonis]

Rudiger, I imagine it would have been available if it existed. BBC used to erase the tapes after some time, so maybe we are lucky to have this one as it is...